Joint media statement: The Equal Education Law Centre and Equal Education provide much needed clarity on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act

The Equal Education Law Centre and Equal Education seek to provide urgent clarity to the public and address widespread misinformation about the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act. We feel the need, in this critical moment, to address three critical concerns. 

Firstly, contrary to public statements, no part of the BELA Act has legally come into operation as the President has not yet proclaimed its commencement. 

Secondly, the President’s purported “suspension” of sections 4 and 5 lacks legal basis – provisions that are not yet in effect cannot be suspended. 

Thirdly, while recent agreements between the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and right wing interest groups like the Solidarity Movement incorrectly suggest otherwise, there are no legal barriers to implementing sections 4 and 5 immediately, as these provisions already contain sufficient guidance for implementation and in fact affirm what the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Appeal have already confirmed about the powers of the heads of education departments and school governing bodies. 

As the President’s self-imposed three-month consultation period comes to an end on 13 December, we outline why any further delay in implementing BELA would potentially raise serious constitutional concerns. This moment presents an opportunity for the Government of National Unity to demonstrate its commitment to democratic processes and the will of the people over privileged and narrow political interests.

Context

When signing and assenting to the BELA Act, the President stated that political parties (both in and outside the Government of National Unity) sought further engagement on sections 4 and 5, and that “in the spirit of cooperation and meaningful engagement” he would delay the implementation of sections 4 and 5 of the BELA Act for a period of three months to allow for further consultation.

We understand that such discussions are being conducted through the Government of National Unity’s “clearing house mechanism”.

The President further stated:

“This will give the parties time to deliberate on these issues and make proposals on how the different views may be accommodated. Should the parties not be able to agree on an approach – I want to make this clear – then we will proceed with a full implementation of all the parts of the bill, within a three-month period.”

This three-month period of “further consultation” comes to an end tomorrow.

Is the BELA Act in operation?

When addressing the media, the President stated that other than sections 4 and 5, the rest of the BELA Act would be implemented immediately. Although the BELA Act was signed on 13 September 2024 and assented to on 16 September 2024, a presidential proclamation fixing the date of commencement has not yet been published.

Section 54 of the Act states: 

“This Act [. . .] comes into operation on a date fixed by the President by proclamation is the Gazette”

As far as we are aware, the President has not proclaimed any date for any provisions of the BELA Act to come into effect. Therefore, no matter what the President has stated to the media, no part of the BELA Act has yet come into operation.

Legality of the “suspension” of sections 4 and 5

Following from our first point, we have concerns regarding the purported “suspension” of sections 4 and 5. Once the President signed BELA into law, it ceased being a Bill and became an Act of Parliament. At this stage, the President’s power under section 79(1) of the Constitution to refer a Bill back to Parliament no longer applies.

Importantly, since no part of the BELA Act has been officially brought into operation through proclamation in the Government Gazette, there are no provisions that can be “suspended” – including sections 4 and 5. Should the President bring the whole act into operation, the Constitutional Court has made it clear that once an Act is in operation, the President cannot suspend its provisions or withdraw the proclamation that brought them into effect. 

While the President does have the legal authority to bring different parts of an Act into effect at different times, and confirmed by the Constitutional Court, this power must be exercised lawfully and rationally. The courts have accepted that, notionally, the President could delay bringing certain provisions of an Act into effect to resolve political disagreements or impasse. However, in doing so, the executive has no power to resolve the impasse, since only Parliament would be empowered to amend the provisions. Importantly, the power to delay the implementation of legislation, or specific clauses therein, cannot lawfully be used to veto or otherwise block the implementation of an Act – for example, an indefinite delay.

We will therefore be monitoring the situation closely to ensure that any delay in implementing the BELA Act, and specifically sections 4 and 5, does not effectively become an unconstitutional veto of these important provisions.

Legality of settlement agreement between the Minister of Basic Education, Solidariteit and the Presidency

On 28 November 2024, the media reported that an agreement had been reached through NEDLAC processes between the Minister of Basic Education, the Solidarity Movement and the Presidency.  According to the Solidarity Movement (which includes Solidarity and AfriForum), as a result of the agreement, sections 4 and 5 of the BELA Act will no longer be implemented on 13 December 2024. The Solidarity Movement further stated

that:

“Norms and standards and national policies and regulations must first be developed which will, among other things, determine that schools which are running at their full capacity may not receive instructions to change their language and admission policy.”

The regulations are to contain “greater legal clarity on when and how the authority of the Head of the Provincial Education Department to (a) depart from the admission policy of a public schools; and (b) require a School Governing Body to review their admission policy, may be exercised”. 

The agreements, however, may not constrain the President’s discretion and constitutional power to bring the BELA Act, or sections 4 and 5, into effect. The adoption of regulations, norms and policies is not necessary for sections 4 and 5 of the BELA Act to be implemented effectively. Importantly, these provisions already stipulate factors that must be considered with regard to the Head of Department’s exercise of powers to direct a School Governing Body to review their language or admissions policy, and require the HOD to undergo a public participation process, including a notice and comment procedure and a hearing. Additionally, the provisions also provide for an appeal to the MEC. Regulations are thus not a necessary precondition for sections 4 and 5 to be effective and rationally implementable.

We also note that the regulations referred to in the settlement agreement are the Norms and Standards for School Capacity – regulations that are currently being developed as a result of Equal Education and Equal Education Law Centre’s timely intervention in a matter between the Department of Basic Education and the Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysers Unie (SAOU). These will determine the minimum standards for class sizes, materials, infrastructure, and other crucial aspects of a conducive learning environment. 

We have been made aware that SAOU, and other right wing interest groups, were given a seat at the table in the development of the draft Capacity Norms, and that their mandate to protect the privilege of a small minority of former Model-C schools reflects in the draft Norms. This pattern, by groups like Solidarity, of leveraging political mechanisms to protect narrow interests at the expense of educational equity threatens to undermine the efficacy of these norms. These norms represent a pivotal opportunity to establish transparent, measurable criteria for school infrastructure and accountability, and we cannot allow them to be diluted or derailed by regressive political manoeuvring.

Way forward

We urge President Ramaphosa to bring the entire BELA Act into force without delay. The Act, which underwent numerous rounds of rigorous public consultation was duly passed through both the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces, and represents a crucial step towards dismantling historical educational inequities. 

Despite this, the law has been subjected to opaque and overt lobbying efforts by organisations like Solidarity, in apparent efforts to protect the interests of historically privileged minority groups. The level of influence and persuasion that these interest groups seem to have over the GNU government, and the DBE in particular, threaten to undermine democratic process and impede meaningful education reforms that could provide more equitable access to quality education for all learners across South Africa.

We urge you, Mr President, that in delaying implementing BELA for political reasons, that you exercise this discretion with great caution. In the context of the Government of National Unity, there must be clear safeguards to ensure that political negotiations – particularly those influenced by select interest groups representing historically privileged minorities – do not override or undermine established democratic processes and public participation. We cannot pick and choose which parts of legislation to implement based on who shouts the loudest. We must  honour the extensive public consultation process that birthed the Act and not bow to the pressure of narrow interests!

This moment will set a critical precedent for how the GNU navigates the balance between political compromise and democratic principles. The decision on BELA’s implementation will reveal whether political negotiations within the GNU will take precedence over the voices of the people they govern – voices that were clearly expressed through extensive public participation and parliamentary processes. We will continue to monitor these developments closely and act swiftly should there be any attempt to undermine constitutional principles or perpetuate undue delays in implementing the Act. 

[END] 

To arrange a media interview, contact: 

Jay-Dee Booysen (Equal Education Law Centre Media and Communications Specialist) jay-dee@eelawcentre.org.za or 082 924 1352

Ayanda Sishi-Wigzell (Equal Education Communications Manager) ayanda@equaleducation.org.za 076 879 3017

The post Joint media statement: The Equal Education Law Centre and Equal Education provide much needed clarity on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act appeared first on Equal Education.

The post Joint media statement: The Equal Education Law Centre and Equal Education provide much needed clarity on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act appeared first on Vuka News.

The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s outreach programme is likely to reach 100,000 children this year. Photo: Renée Bonorchis

The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s outreach programme is likely to reach 100,000 children this year.
The Foundation, which has about 3,000 schools on its database, teaches children about the ocean and what they can do to preserve it.
One of its goals is to reach schools inland, where children may never have seen the sea.

On weekday mornings, staff from the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation often head to schools in Cape Town’s poorer areas to teach learners about the ocean and what they can do to preserve it.

In the financial year to February 2024, the education department of the Foundation, now named Ocean Campus, reached 70,000 children in the Western Cape. This financial year, the staff expect to reach 100,000 children, says Ocean Campus head Leigh Meinert.

From early childhood development puppet shows, online courses, and teaching in classrooms, the staff are pulling back the surface of the ocean and helping young people to understand a little about what lies beneath and why it’s important.

Some of the children they meet will find their passion and make protecting the sea their life, like Anzio Abels. Abels, who was a course participant at the aquarium when he was at school, has been a critical part of the outreach programme for a decade.

This year, he says, he’s covered about 12,000 kilometres and done around 85 school visits. His main message when he’s out in the field is about how people can “make sustainable choices in their everyday lives to protect the environment for our own future”.

Abels, who this year launched his own online course for the Ocean Campus, called Climate Action Now, says there are some common questions from learners across the board. When he’s teaching about the environment or biodiversity, the kids most often want to know if megalodons and mermaids exist.

The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, under which Ocean Campus falls, has about 3,000 schools on its database. One of its challenges is to reach people inland where children may never have seen the sea.

This is important because much of the damage to the ocean is done inland. From chemical leaching and discharge flowing into rivers to prolific amounts of single-use plastic and typically large carbon footprints, big cities far away from the ocean can have an outsized impact on the sea.

“To reach inland provinces, we have our online videos – it was one of the reasons to launch our Ocean Campus Studios and we now have our own YouTube channel,” Meinert says, referring to the Foundation’s audiovisual department. “More and more we’re filming our lessons and making them available freely on our YouTube channel. That’s one way to have an impact. Online courses are another.”

With adult education another area of expansion, the Foundation is also working on influencing parents so that they’re equipped to share that knowledge with their children.

“We’ve analysed what people know when they come in, and then we ask what do they know when they leave? Oh, they know more: great, we’ve done a good job.”

“But that doesn’t really speak to the impact,” Meinert says.

Often the results are anecdotal, she says, citing one example where one of the children in an outreach class in Lavender Hill years ago now has her doctorate in oceanography.

“And that’s just from one visit,” says Meinert. “What we’re really now focusing on is tracking our courses, letting school children know about marine sciences as a matric course, the new kind of subject choices they can make, and consolidating everyone who has come through our courses into an ocean champion community, helping them with what they want to do and supporting their activism.”

Meinert sees the Ocean Campus collaborating with all kinds of institutions from corporates to universities to activist groups. There are also plans to invite former students who have gone on to work in the marine field to give master classes. The future, she says, is going to be about upskilling, community events, and things like giving students who have completed courses aquarium membership.

Getting the Ocean Campus to where it is now and the number of children whose lives it can touch is a significant achievement, says Ann Lamont, executive chairperson of the Foundation. “But we can’t stop at just a lesson or a course. We’re moving toward sustaining relationships with people who’ve been through our programmes and supporting them and starting to tell their stories.”

As for funding, Meinert says it’s difficult.

“There are just so many worthy causes out there. Being a funder must be a nightmare because there are so many issues. We’ve done very well to build long-term relationships. But I’m also surprised by how little funding we sometimes receive, given how significant our reach is and how impactful our work is,” she says.

Nonetheless, with expansion underway, the Foundation has taken on a new stakeholder relationship manager and is ramping up its fundraising efforts.

According to a report released earlier this year, only about 1% of philanthropic giving worldwide goes to the marine conservation sector. Yet the ocean is vital for sustaining life on earth.

But that’s not to say there isn’t hope; Abels says he sees the impact the Foundation’s outreach visits have, especially in schools that are revisited regularly.

He says when young people understand how they can affect the environment in their everyday lives, they are willing to make decisions to preserve and protect it for the future.

“Young people are eager to learn about how the world works,” he says.

The post The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is bringing the sea to the classroom appeared first on Vuka News.

A bleak, unpleasant and unwelcome festive season looms for many desperate mothers in rural Vhembe villages in Limpopo, who for years earned an income selling snack foods to public school learners. They have not been able to earn a income since the beginning of October due to safety restrictions put in place by the Limpopo department of education (LDE).

In late October, the LDE barred all school vendors from operating their stalls in or outside all public school premises. This was after several reports of children allegedly falling ill after eating snacks and sweets they bought from food vendors. A 13-year-old learner from Khubvi village outside of Thohoyandou died in October, with suspicion falling on snacks he had bought. The incident drove school learners from Khubvi and surrounding villages to chase away all vendors from their schools, while also shutting down all local shops selling snacks and sweets.

Azwinndini Ramuima is a 56-year-old food vendor, who runs her open stall outside the gates of Mulweli Primary School, near Elim. Ramuima said that she started selling snacks, sweets, and fat cakes at the same school in the year 1998. “Being a school vendor has been my life for many years, I have been earning an income this way for over two decades and no one has ever fallen ill from eating any food item which I sell,” said Ramuima. She became a school vendor after several attempts at finding employment failed. She has not been able to earn an income for over six weeks now and she is uncertain of her near future.

According to Statistics South Africa, as of the second quarter of 2024, South Africa’s unemployment rate was 33.5%. The United Nations (UN) indicates that women are slightly more likely to be unemployed than men.

“At the moment, I am totally broken as I have no money, whilst inside the house I have enough stock to sell, which can make me a couple of hundred rands but due to all the dilemmas going on in our country, I am unable to sell. It is so painful not knowing what you’re going to eat the next day,” said Ramuima.

The single mother of four, whose youngest child is 14 years old, used to make a profit of more than five thousand rand every month. But now she is bound to survive on the child support grant she receives for her two youngest children. “I used to look forward to Christmas and all the December holidays, because I knew that I was going to have money to spoil my children, but this year is a different story. I wish we can just move to January next year. How am I going to tell my children that this Christmas, we will not even be able to afford decent meals like we usually do,” said Ramuima.

She told Elitsha that she used to save the money she made through her business by participating in a school stokvel, with her fellow vendors and they used to split the money at the end of December. But this year, they had to split the money early, following the decision to bar them from schools. “We were forced to split the stokvel money in October and I had to quickly use the money to buy two of my children school uniforms as I do not know if we will be allowed to operate again early next year, when schools re-open,” she said.

During the first week of November, the LDE indicated that school vendors will be allowed to run their businesses within or outside school premises from the 11th of November. But many vendors like Ramuima could not do so as they do not meet requirements. According to the departmental spokesperson, Mosebjane Kgaffe, these requirements include that vendors have to stock and sell food items consistent with nutritional guidelines and they must also have a formal service level agreement with the school governing body.

Kgaffe also indicated that school vendors must have valid certificates of acceptability from the health department, affirming compliance with hygiene standards. Furthermore, they have to keep verifiable documentation demonstrating the origins of their products. “This must include receipts and invoices detailing suppliers, purchase dates and product descriptions. There is also a ban on the sale of snacks from brands identified as containing foreign objects or lacking expiry dates,” said Kgaffe.

For Ramuima, all these measures put in place demand more than she can afford. “I think it will be difficult for me to run this business again, as now I cannot sell the stock which I already have as I no longer have the receipts and at the same time, I do not have money to purchase new stock. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place,” explained Ramuima.

Ramuima is not alone. Gladys Marubini (48) has been working as a vendor at Azwifarwi Secondary School, outside of Thohoyandou since 2007. She also has not been able to earn an income for more than six weeks now. “To be honest, I never expected anything like this as things have been running smoothly on my side as I was able to earn a living through selling food items to school children. But now life is very hard on my side as I am not able to earn any income since they stopped us from selling,” said Marubini.

Marubini, who is a single mother of two teenagers 18 and 15, said that she believes that they should have at least been given two months’ notice so that they could prepare themselves for a gloomy time. “We were never given a warning or notice but just out of the blue we were told to stop selling. Just imagine all the stocks we have at home: what are we going to do with all these food items we have at home? We cannot sell them no more and we do not have money to buy new stock as the requirements by the department of education states,” she said.

Marubini, who left school in grade 10 decades ago, said that she wishes they could be allowed to sell the stock they already have. “I have never heard of any learner falling ill from the food items me and my colleagues sell, and we only buy quality and safe products. They should just send someone to come and inspect our stocks to find if we have any unsafe snacks,” she protested.

Attempts to get comment from the association of school governing bodies in Limpopo failed.

The post A gloomy Christmas for food vendors barred from Limpopo schools appeared first on Vuka News.

A long-running struggle for learners’ equitable access to schools in the Western Cape has yielded key victories through an ongoing litigation process against the Western Cape provincial government. In April 2024, Equal Education (EE), alongside parent applicants, represented by the Equal Education Law Centre (EELC), launched an urgent application for immediate placement of a group of out-of-school learners, challenging the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) admission policy for its failure to plan for the processing of all categories of late applications and, in the interim, asking the WCED to set up late application pop-up stations in the Metro East Education District for the 2025 academic year. 

Significant gains have been made as a result of the litigation and continuous engagement with parents and the WCED. Importantly in Part A of our application the court ruled that the out-of-school learners be placed in schools for the remainder of 2024. These learners now await their  academic results. Significantly, the court’s reasons defined the meaning of learner placement, as being a learner must have received a placement letter and be able to actually attend classes. This is an important development because it is now not enough for the WCED to simply say a learner is “placed” in terms of their online application system- when factually, as in the past, they are not in school and unable to attend the said school for various reasons. The WCED has an active duty to ensure that learners are meaningfully placed in schools and are able to physically attend school and access learning. Part A’s victories will continue to have an effect on the administration of admissions in the Western Cape in the coming school years.

Part B, which focuses on the WCED’s policy on late applications, was scheduled to be heard in court on 15 November 2024. In an effort to continue constructive engagements with the WCED to find resolutions that will best serve the affected parents and learners in the Western Cape, the applicants (EE and parent applicants) agreed to the WCED’s request for a postponement of the hearing on the condition that in the interim, systems and processes are put in place for the processing of late applications for the 2025 academic year. 

As a result, on 15 November 2024, the Western Cape High Court issued an order,  as follows:

The WCED will promulgate Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the processing of late applications in the Western Cape which will take effect on 2 December 2024 (today); 
Importantly, the WCED is ordered to put in place admission pop-up stations in Khayelitsha Mall, Somerset Crossing, Eerste River, Bloekombos Bloch Centre, and Kuils River on the following dates: 16, 23, and 30 November 2024; 11, 18, and 25 January 2025; and 1 February 2025.

Significantly, prior to the order of the court and due to our ongoing engagements with the WCED, pop-up stations had already started operating in these key areas weeks before the order. Through our monitoring, we observed long lines of parents queuing from the early mornings in an attempt to secure a school place for their children. 

We welcome these measures and believe that, if implemented effectively, and coupled with a proper review of the WCED’s existing Admissions Policy, through public consultations, with the objective to ensure the adequate management of all categories of late applications these measures will advance the struggle towards more equitable admissions processes and systems in the Western Cape.  

We will continue to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the above interim measures, and encourage all parents and caregivers whose children still need school places for the 2025 school year to make use of the services provided by the WCED as part of EE and the EELC’s ongoing efforts to protect and advance learners’ access to equitable and quality education.

[END] 

To arrange a media interview, contact: 

Ayanda Sishi-Wigzell (Equal Education Communications Manager) ayanda@equaleducation.org.za 076 879 3017

Jay-Dee Booysen (Equal Education Law Centre Media and Communications Specialist) jay-dee@eelawcentre.org.za or 082 924 1352

The post Joint media statement: Hard-won gains toward achieving equal access to schools for all learners in the Western Cape appeared first on Equal Education.

The post Joint media statement: Hard-won gains toward achieving equal access to schools for all learners in the Western Cape appeared first on Vuka News.

The post Joint media statement: Hard-won gains toward achieving equal access to schools for all learners in the Western Cape appeared first on Equal Education.

The post Joint media statement: Hard-won gains toward achieving equal access to schools for all learners in the Western Cape appeared first on Vuka News.

Mampondo Primary School learners pose in front of their new toilets with school principal Goodness Nokulunga Manci-Mvulana. To the right, some elders from the community look in on the celebration. Photo: Yamkela Nntshongwana

Mampondo Primary School received 12 new aerobic sanitation system toilets

 By Yamkela Ntshongwana – this post was first published on GroundUp

Children at Mampondo Primary School in Sicwenza outside Flagstaff need no longer fear falling into a pit toilet.

In October GroundUp reported that a six-year-old had to be rescued after falling into one of the old pit toilets in August, and how in June an eight-year-old had also fallen in.

Now the school has received a dozen low flush aerobic sanitation system toilets – five for girls, five for boys and two for teachers.

The toilets were donated and delivered by Save Our Schools Non-Profit Organization (SOSNOP) in partnership with Amalooloo and Concor infrastructure.

SOSNOP CEO Shelly Humphreys said that after reading the GroundUp article, she contacted the school principal and asked if they could help.

Inspectors were sent to check the condition of the old toilets and that’s when they knew that they definitely needed to help.

“We are so thankful that we were able to bring help before a learner dies from these toilets, though it must have been a terrible trauma for those who were rescued in these pits before,” said Humphreys.

At the handover ceremony, school principal Goodness Nokulunga Manci-Mvulana said, “We really appreciate the work that you have done for the community of Mampondo and bringing back the dignity of our school from the teachers to the learners.”

She said the conditions of the old toilets had disrupted teaching and learning as teachers had to supervise use of the toilets.

School governing body member Feziwe Boko said they will now sleep peacefully.

Boko said she hopes that now that they have new toilets, more parents will enrol their children at the school as this had been an issue in the past.

The post School pit toilet nightmare solved thanks to civil society appeared first on Vuka News.

“Braille is no crime” read a poster held by a protester outside the Constitutional Court where lawyers for Blind SA were requesting that a court-crafted copyright exception for braille and other accessible formats be extended. Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee.

Blind SA led a picket outside the Constitutional Court on Thursday. Inside, the court was considering a matter relating to copyright in South Africa that affects the rights of blind people to convert copyright protected works into accessible formats.

Protesters held up posters reading: “Braille is not a crime” and “End the book famine”.

“The essence is that there really should be equal access to books,” said Pearl Nicodemus from SECTION27.

In 2022, the Constitutional Court ruled that certain sections of the current Copyright Act are unconstitutional because they deny blind people the ability to convert books without the consent of the copyright holder to formats like braille and audio.

The court ordered Parliament to amend the Act by 21 September 2024 to allow for this. In the interim, the court crafted its own exception for people who are visually impaired and had it read immediately into the Copyright Act, awaiting Parliament to amend the Act.

But the Copyright Amendment Bill, which would address the unconstitutional elements of the current Copyright Act, although approved by Parliament in February and sent to President Ramaphosa, has not been signed into law. As a result, the court-crafted exception has now lapsed.

“We are here to demand our rights as blind and partially sighted people of South Africa. We want the judges to do what is right as they did two years ago,” said Ofentse Manyane, head of braille printing at Blind SA.

“Being blind does not mean we are second class citizens. We just want the right to read books like every other person who has that right,” said Manyane.

Inside the court, lawyers from SECTION27, acting for Blind SA, were requesting that the court-crafted exception be resuscitated until the President signs the Copyright Amendment Bill. This would then allow for the continued legal production of material in accessible formats for blind and visually impaired people.

“Because of the President’s failure to sign the bill there is now a gap in the law, so we are hoping that the court resuscitates this exception that allowed us to convert books legally. Reading cannot be criminalised,” said Manyane.

Blind SA was not opposed except by the President on the matter of court costs.

The Constitutional Court reserved judgment.

GroundUp will write a report explaining the judgment when it is handed down.

The post End book famine for blind people, demand protesters appeared first on Vuka News.

History and Purpose of School Uniforms 

Uniforms were first used to encourage equality by making all students look the same, no matter their economic background. But today, these rules often cause more problems than they solve, especially in public and rural schools. While uniforms aim to promote safety, discipline, and unity, they often create financial and social barriers for many families. 

The Financial Burden of School Uniforms 

One of the biggest problems with school uniforms in South Africa is their cost. For many low-income families, buying uniforms is a heavy financial burden. Reports show that some families spend up to 20% of their income on uniforms alone. To make matters worse, many schools force parents to buy from specific suppliers at high prices, leaving families with fewer affordable options. 

A sad example of this issue involved a student in East London who was turned away from school because he couldn’t afford shoes. Although learners cannot be denied access to education for non-compliance with school uniform policies, the reality is that it does happen. While uniforms are meant to create a sense of equality, they often become obstacles to education. Schools need to find cheaper options, such as second-hand uniform programs, to help struggling families. 

Gendered and Non-Inclusive Policies 

Another major issue is the gender-specific rules around school uniforms. In many schools, boys are expected to wear trousers, while girls must wear skirts. This approach reinforces outdated gender roles and does not support the rights of transgender and non-binary students. While hair policies apply to both boys and girls, boys are often faced with less strict rules about their appearance, while girls appear to be more closely monitored – sometimes even down to the colour of underwear under skirts or dresses. 

Some schools have started to offer more inclusive options which allows learners to choose from a list of uniform items without prescribing any item to boys or girls exclusively. Hair can be long or short – long hair should be neatly tied back, and short hair should not touch the ears; earrings can be worn but must be studs or small hoops in either silver or gold. However, these positive changes are mainly seen in former Model C schools, while poorer schools struggle to implement similar policies due to limited resources. This shows the need for national policy changes that ensure all learners are treated equally and with respect. 

Legal and Constitutional Rights 

The South African Constitution guarantees all learners the right to equality, dignity, and freedom of expression. Current uniform policies sometimes clash with these values. The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA) emphasises that schools should avoid any form of discrimination. The 2006 National Guidelines on School Uniforms were a good step toward reducing costs and ensuring equal access to education. However, in terms of costs, the decade-long stream of complaints from parents regarding anti-competitive practices between schools and school uniform suppliers show that there is still much to be done. Although the Competition Commission have adopted a number of interventions which, according to a 2024 report, have had a significant impact in reducing school uniform costs, many parents still spend a significant portion of their income on school uniforms. At the same time, experiences of discrimination against transgender and gender diverse learners are increasingly publicised, with school uniforms being one of the many barriers to education. Enforceable laws are needed to protect the rights of all learners.  

To create a more fair and inclusive school uniform system in South Africa, several changes are necessary: 

Adopt a national school uniform regulations: focus on affordability, inclusivity and giving effect to the rights of all learners. 
Provide gender-neutral or “choice of attire” school uniforms: offer flexible dress codes that respect diverse gender identities and reduce discrimination.  
Trial flexible uniform policies: allow students to wear generic items like plain shirts and trousers that meet a school’s color code, rather than requiring specific branded items. 
Enforce the Competition Competition’s guidelines on the procurement of school uniform and other learning-related goods: address anti-competitive practices amongst suppliers. 
Involve parents and learners in reviewing school uniform rules ensures relevant policies that accord with the communities’ needs. 
Transitional support: provide grace periods for new learners to obtain school uniforms, support second-hand uniform programmes and encourage learners to donate school uniforms when leaving school. 

Conclusion: Moving Toward Fairness and Equality 

South Africa’s school uniform policies need to change to reflect values of equality, dignity, and inclusivity. Financial burdens, outdated gender rules, and inconsistent enforcement are major challenges. By creating policies that respect and support every learner, schools can become places where all children can learn without fear or discrimination. Schools, communities, and the government must work together to make school uniforms a tool for unity and equality, not division. 

The post Reforming SA School Uniforms: Tackling Cost, Gender, & Inclusion appeared first on Vuka News.

The post The high cost of having too few pharmacists in SA appeared first on Spotlight.

The post The high cost of having too few pharmacists in SA appeared first on Vuka News.

Tshepo Mantje, from the Real Reform for ECD Movement, addresses the crowd gathered outside the Department of Basic Education offices in Pretoria on Wednesday. Photo: Silver Sibiya

More than 100 early childhood development centre (ECD) practitioners picketed outside the Department of Basic Education offices in Pretoria on Wednesday. They want urgent action on funding for early childhood development centres in vulnerable communities. They especially want money for nutrition.

The protesters, wearing black, stood under the blazing sun, and submitted a memorandum calling for significant changes to current ECD funding mechanisms.

They argue that adequate nutrition in early childhood (up to the age of six) is crucial for child development and future educational outcomes.

They want the R197-million that has been allocated for a national nutrition programme pilot to be spent before the end of the financial year.

They also want the Children’s Amendment Bill tabled in Parliament as a matter of urgency, as they say it will reduce regulatory barriers for funding ECD centres.

Zoë Postman from the Equality Collective explained the inadequacy of the current subsidy. The R17 per child subsidy is “next to nothing in this economy” to cover food, run a facility and pay teachers.

The subsidy has been frozen at R17 since 2019. Of that, only R6.80 is ring-fenced for nutrition.

“It’s totally unacceptable and unrealistic,” she said.

Mpho Mokoto, who runs Little Bright Champs Day Care in Finetown, which has 20 children, said her crèche charges only 250 a month.

“This is not even enough for the monthly food we provide for them because of inflation which keeps increasing.”

She said she has adopted four children whose parents cannot afford the fees.

“It’s heartbreaking to see children in the streets,” said Mokoto. “When the year starts, we usually have more than 30 kids, but as it progresses many drop out. Parents say they can’t afford Christmas clothes and fees for their children, and we understand, because many don’t [have regular] work or receive child grants. They rely on menial jobs.”

Tshepo Mantje, from the Real Reform for ECD Movement, said, “We see supporting ECD as having potential to address poverty and inequality.”

Education department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the department would study the memorandum and prepare responses “in a matter of days”.

GroundUp experimented with AI Claude 3.5 Sonnet in the editing of this article.

The post Early childhood development groups picket for increased funding appeared first on Vuka News.

After long delays, construction of the R16-million rand Vleifontein Library in Limpopo is back on track. Photo: Thembi Siaga

After long delays, the multi-million-rand Vleifontein Library in Limpopo is finally nearing completion. Initially seen as a beacon of hope for the community, the project faced numerous setbacks but now promises to deliver much-needed educational resources. Nearby villages, such as Maila and surrounding areas, will also benefit.

Construction began in September 2022 but halted after just two months when Malerate Construction, which was awarded the R10.6-million tender, apparently abandoned the site.

In December 2022, Malerate officially withdrew, citing labour strikes, excessive SMME demands, adverse weather conditions, and rising interest rates.

Limpopo public works, in consultation with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, terminated Malerate’s contract on 20 December 2022.

The stoppage left the community frustrated and demanding accountability. Residents watched helplessly as the incomplete building, intended to be a cornerstone of education, stood idle.

In March 2023, the department revealed it had paid the contractor R743,000 for work completed.

Initially it was anticipated that a new contractor would be appointed in April 2023, with the library’s completion expected by May 2024.

But this timeline did not materialise. The delay has forced residents, particularly learners, to travel 26km to Louis Trichardt for library services.

In July 2023, Rembuwa Trading was awarded a R16-million tender.

Limpopo public works media liaison officer Emmanuel Mongwe, said recent delays were primarily due to inclement weather.

“The project is now on track, and we anticipate its completion by the end of December 2024,” said Mongwe.

Asked about the scope of the remaining work, Rembuwa Trading owner Livhuwani Ndou said, “I have not signed any agreement with the department that requires me to answer questions from the media. Everything is fine, no one is complaining, and I am not getting paid by the media. Give me more time.”

When we recently visited, construction appeared to be moslty complete and some workers were still active on site.

Local learner Musa Mufamadi expressed relief. “We were upset when the contractor left. With no other library nearby, travelling to Louis Trichardt was costly. Studying at home is difficult due to noise, so the library will provide a quiet space for study, promote independent learning, and encourage a love of reading even among the young ones,” he said.

Other learners eagerly anticipate the library’s reopening, stressing its potential as a hub for Internet access.

Published in partnership with Limpopo Mirror

The post Once-abandoned Vleifontein Library nearing completion at last appeared first on Vuka News.

To whom it may concern, 

I write to you from Equal Education, a youth-led mass democratic movement of learners, post-school youth, parents, teachers and community members. Equal Education is one of the leading grassroots voices on education and youth-related matters in the country that uses mobilisation and public action, supported by careful research, to empower young activists and ensure equality in South African education.  Our movement holds a special place in our country’s civil society and youth space, operating across five provinces (Limpopo, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal). 

Equal Education in celebration of its 16 years of influencing and shaping education justice in South Africa, EE members having marched, written letters, held night vigils, met with government officials and public representatives, advocated in the media, made submissions to Parliament and, where necessary, taken legal action with the assistance of the Equal Education Law Centre (EELC), to deliver major victories for learners across South Africa. We would like to capacitate our youth with the necessary equipment to be a part of fighting for education justice in South Africa. 

We are therefore reaching out to request sponsorship support for our initiatives, which may include:

– Food and refreshments for events and workshops

– Transportation for our team and beneficiaries

– First aid resources for emergency situations

– Media coverage to amplify our message

–  T-shirts, hoodies, and tags for our team and beneficiaries

– Tech appliances such as tablets, laptops, Wi-Fi routers 

Your contribution will directly impact the lives of thousands of learners and community members, providing them with access to quality education and resources. Benefits of sponsorship:

– Brand visibility through our events, social media, and marketing materials

– Association with a reputable NGO making a positive impact in South Africa

– Opportunities for employee engagement and volunteerism

– Tax benefits for charitable donations

We believe that together, we can create a brighter future for South Africa’s youth. Please consider supporting our cause.

For more information on our organisation: Snap Shot, Get to know Equal Education (EE): 

Who is EE? 

I am an equaliser video 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HEZb_Ut5Zc 

What do we believe in? 

Pride Month 

https://twitter.com/equal_education/status/1283307312057397248?s=20 

Where’s the fire? 

https://twitter.com/equal_education/status/1420783693279399941?s=20 

Our campaigns 

Infrastructure campaign work in rural provinces 

https://twitter.com/equal_education/status/1449999341574410242?s=20 

NSNP Campaign 

https://twitter.com/equal_education/status/1417761227821010946?s=20 

We look forward to your positive response. 

 Yours in an Equal Education, 

Noncedo Madubedube, 

General Secretary.

The post Sponsorship for Equal Education appeared first on Equal Education.

The post Sponsorship for Equal Education appeared first on Vuka News.

To whom it may concern, 

I write to you from Equal Education, a youth-led mass democratic movement of learners, post-school youth, parents, teachers and community members. Equal Education is one of the leading grassroots voices on education and youth-related matters in the country that uses mobilisation and public action, supported by careful research, to empower young activists and ensure equality in South African education.  Our movement holds a special place in our country’s civil society and youth space, operating across five provinces (Limpopo, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal). 

Equal Education in celebration of its 16 years of influencing and shaping education justice in South Africa, EE members having marched, written letters, held night vigils, met with government officials and public representatives, advocated in the media, made submissions to Parliament and, where necessary, taken legal action with the assistance of the Equal Education Law Centre (EELC), to deliver major victories for learners across South Africa. We would like to capacitate our youth with the necessary equipment to be a part of fighting for education justice in South Africa. 

We are therefore reaching out to request sponsorship support for our initiatives, which may include:

– Food and refreshments for events and workshops

– Transportation for our team and beneficiaries

– First aid resources for emergency situations

– Media coverage to amplify our message

–  T-shirts, hoodies, and tags for our team and beneficiaries

– Tech appliances such as tablets, laptops, Wi-Fi routers 

Your contribution will directly impact the lives of thousands of learners and community members, providing them with access to quality education and resources. Benefits of sponsorship:

– Brand visibility through our events, social media, and marketing materials

– Association with a reputable NGO making a positive impact in South Africa

– Opportunities for employee engagement and volunteerism

– Tax benefits for charitable donations

We believe that together, we can create a brighter future for South Africa’s youth. Please consider supporting our cause.

For more information on our organisation: Snap Shot, Get to know Equal Education (EE): 

Who is EE? 

I am an equaliser video 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HEZb_Ut5Zc 

What do we believe in? 

Pride Month 

https://twitter.com/equal_education/status/1283307312057397248?s=20 

Where’s the fire? 

https://twitter.com/equal_education/status/1420783693279399941?s=20 

Our campaigns 

Infrastructure campaign work in rural provinces 

https://twitter.com/equal_education/status/1449999341574410242?s=20 

NSNP Campaign 

https://twitter.com/equal_education/status/1417761227821010946?s=20 

We look forward to your positive response. 

 Yours in an Equal Education, 

Noncedo Madubedube, 

General Secretary.

The post Sponsorship for Equal Education appeared first on Equal Education.

The post Sponsorship for Equal Education appeared first on Vuka News.

the original post was published by © Legal Resources Centre – summary by Vuka.news:

 LRC Demands Action

The Legal Resources Centre (LRC) is calling for urgent action after the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Basic Education failed to pay Early Childhood Development (ECD) stipends since August 2023. This has left over 130 ECD centres in financial trouble. Despite many attempts by the LRC, Friends of South Africa ECD Forum (FOSA), and the KZN ECD Alliance, the issue remains unresolved. On 29 October, the LRC sent a letter asking for a clear payment plan by 15 November and full payments by 29 November. If these deadlines are missed, the LRC plans to take legal action.

Background – When the responsibility for ECD shifted from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education, the National Treasury provided funds to support ECD centres. But irregular payments have left many centres struggling, especially in poor communities.

How This Affects ECD Centres – The missed payments have forced ECD centres to make difficult decisions:

• Centre Closures: Many centres have closed or are thinking about closing because of money problems, especially in areas where ECD services are limited.
• Higher Fees: Some centres increased fees, causing parents to withdraw their children.
• No Free Meals: Centres are asking parents to send lunchboxes, but this pushes parents to remove children as they rely on the free meals.
• Unpaid Staff: Workers are not paid regularly, making them lose motivation.
• Poor Nutrition: Centres cannot afford healthy food and must buy cheaper options.

This situation harms children’s learning, safety, and health.

What’s Happening Now

The KZN Department has made some payments but has not explained the delays. The LRC, part of the Real Reform Campaign, asks everyone to join a sit-in on 20 November to demand answers and long-term solutions.

• For media inquiries, please contact: Puleng Mosia  063 011 4333 puleng@lrc.org.za  

The post Immediate Action needed on Unpaid ECD Stipends in KZN appeared first on Vuka News.

Staff at Kutsakeni Primary say these boreholes at the school dried up in 2021. Now the school has asked learners to contribute R150 annually to fill their water tanks. Photos: Thembi Siaga

Each year, parents at a school in Gandlanani village, outside Giyani, Limpopo are asked to contribute R150 towards refilling the school’s water tanks.

There are two boreholes at Kutsakeni Primary, but staff say they dried up in 2021.

Parent Randzu Macebe told GroundUp, “We are worried because the classrooms are in bad condition, except for the administration block. The school does not have [running] water, and learners have to pay R150 a year to assist the school to buy water.”

The school has just under 400 learners and is overcrowded.

SGB chair, January Baloyi, said the school spends about R4,000 each month to refill the water tanks. He acknowledged that some parents cannot afford to, especially those relying on social grants.

Beside their water troubles, Kutsakeni Primary was badly damaged during a storm that hit Giyani in October. It damaged the school’s already dilapidated and old buildings. The walls of most classrooms have cracks, and floors have holes in them. As a result, meals are now cooked in an informal zinc structure on the premises.

Classrooms at Kutsakeni Primary were badly damaged during the storm that hit Giyani in October.

Members of the SGB say they have written to the Limpopo Department of Education about these issues numerous times for more than ten years. The members we spoke to said over the years they have tried, but failed, to access underground water by drilling at different spots.

A letter pleading for urgent intervention from the education department dated 24 October 2024 was signed by the principal, two SGB members and the village’s Chief Mkhacani Nhlaniki.

They urged the department to address the situation and for officials to visit the school as soon as possible, citing the safety of learners and staff as a concern.

Limpopo education department spokesperson, Mosebjane Kgaffe said that after the school first complained about the conditions, they provided three mobile classrooms in 2019.

Asked about the recent damage caused by the October storm, Kgaffe said only one roof had been severely damaged and that Public Works had been contacted to assist with repairs. But we saw more damaged infrastructure during our visit to the school.

Kgaffe said that the school is on the department’s priority list for upgrades in order to meet national norms and standards.

Published in partnership with Limpopo Mirror.

Two classrooms at Kutsakeni Primary previously used as a kitchen, were blown away during a recent storm. Now the learners’ meals are cooked in this shack.

The post Learners pay R150 to fill water tanks at overcrowded, dilapidated Limpopo school appeared first on Vuka News.

Early childhood development centres in KwaZulu-Natal, like this one in KwaNdengezi, west of Durban, have been battling because of irregular subsidy payments by the provincial department of education. Photo: Tsoanelo Sefoloko

Lawyers representing hundreds of early childhood development centres in KwaZulu-Natal say the provincial education department is failing to pay the centres their subsidies.
As a result, the centres cannot pay staff or feed children properly, they say.
The Legal Resources Centre has written to the provincial and national education departments demanding confirmation by Friday 15 November that all outstanding payments will be made by the end of the month.
The provincial education department confirmed the backlog but declined to give details.

Hundreds of early childhood development centres (ECDC) in KwaZulu-Natal have sent a lawyer’s letter to the provincial department of education demanding their subsidies. The centres have been battling for months to get their subsidies of R17 per child per day.

Jurisdiction over the centres was moved from the department of social development to the department of education in 2022.

At the end of October the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), representing the Friends of South Africa ECD Forum and the KwaZulu-Natal ECD Alliance, wrote to the KZN Department of Education (KZNDoE), the national Minister of Basic Education, the provincial and national treasury, complaining that centres had been paid irregularly since 2023 and that many were still owed money.

The Forum has 500 members and the Alliance 600.

The LRC said the two organisations had complained several times and the KZN education department had acknowledged the problem and even apologised, but it had not given reasons or fixed the problem.

As a result of the failure to pay, principals of some ECD centres had been threatened by staff who had not been paid their salaries, the LRC said. Some principals had taken out personal loans to feed the children, and some had asked parents to send food.

“In cases where the parents are unemployed and living on social grants this is often not feasible, leaving many children to go hungry,” the LRC said.

“The exchange of correspondence demonstrates that the KZNDoE is aware that ECD centres are operating without receiving the stipends that are due to them. Despite this, the KZN DoE has failed to offer substantiated reasons for the non-payment.”

On behalf of the two organisations, the LRC asked for a list of all ECD centres which had not been fully paid, and confirmation by 15 November that outstanding money would be paid by 29 November. They also demanded reasons for the non-payment and steps which would be taken to make sure it did not happen again.

LRC attorney Sheniece Linderboom told GroundUp the LRC had not yet received a response.

Zandile Hlongwa says she has been running an early childhood development centre in Umkomazi, south of Durban, for 12 years. She says the number of children in her centre has decreased from over 100 in 2023 to 39, because she has had to increase her fees in the absence of a regular stipend.

She said the department still owes her two months’ stipends.

“Since we have been moved to the department of education, I have been struggling to pay teachers and to stick to the menu, because I couldn’t afford to buy groceries … I just buy something which is enough to last for the whole month.

“The parents didn’t understand when I increased the fees from R200 to R300. I now have only two teachers at the centre because the number of children has decreased after I increased the school fees,” said Hlongwa.

Mandulo Khuzwayo, who runs a centre in KwaNdengezi, west of Durban, said the department of education pays a grant of R17 per day per child, but when payments are late they sometimes have to borrow from loan sharks to keep operating and to pay staff.

“It is not easy to survive under these financial challenges. We are facing non-payment from the department of education. From the R17 grant per child, 40% goes to nutrition and the 40% teachers’ stipend and 20% for the administration and the municipal bills,” said Khuzwayo.

“I am forced to give them whatever food is available. I can’t send them home because some of them come from disadvantaged homes where they can’t afford to have a proper breakfast.”

KwaZulu-Natal department of education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said, “We can confirm that we started paying ECD centres. But from where I am sitting I can’t tell you how many have been paid and how many still need to be paid, because it’s an on going process.”

Linderboom said the LRC was preparing for litigation if necessary.

The post KwaZulu-Natal education department fails to pay crèches appeared first on Vuka News.

Wheelchair users and other people with disabilities picketed at the Civic Centre in Cape Town on Monday to demand better access to public transport. Photo: Mary-Anne Gontsana

The Disability Revolution group wants the City of Cape Town to include specific measures for people with disabilities in its transport planning

 By Mary-Anne Gontsana for GroundUp

“Public transport for people with disabilities is a nightmare,” said Phakama Zembeta, mother of a disabled teenager.

“It’s so bad that we have resorted to using e-hailing vehicles each time he needs to go to the clinic which are costly and are sometimes unreliable,” said the mother from Eerste River.

She was among about 50 people who, despite the cold and rain, came out to a picket led by the Disability Revolution organisation in Cape Town’s Civic Centre. They say the City of Cape Town’s Comprehensive Integrated Transport Plan 2023-2028 (CITP) does not include a specific plan for people with disabilities, especially from poor communities and informal settlements.

Zembeta and other protesters say the plan fails “to mention people living with disabilities in informal settlements, who are among the most vulnerable people in the city”. They want the City to update the CITP to include a specific transport access plan for disabled people in informal settlements. They also say they were not adequately consulted about the new Dial-A-Ride business plan.

“It shouldn’t be this difficult for people with disabilities to use public transport. The government is not doing enough,” said Zembeta.

As the group entered the Civic Centre, the City’s Oversight Committee chairperson for Urban Mobility, Mikhail Manuel, came to meet them briefly.

Wheelchair user Siyabonga Majozi from Lower Crossroads told Manuel that there was no dignity in taking public transport as a disabled person. “You can be standing at the side of the road, and gesture for a taxi, but it will pass you like you’re invisible.

“When one eventually stops and picks me up, the driver is rude. One time a driver told me that my wheelchair takes up the space of another passenger.”

Majozi said a trip by train isn’t even an option for him because many stations still don’t have proper ramps or working lifts. “Imagine having to be carried around by strangers like you are a sack of potatoes to access public transport,” said Majozi.

The group’s submissions were accepted and signed by Manuel.

The post People with disabilities demand better access to public transport appeared first on Vuka News.

The post Media Statement on the 2024 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) Education spending decreases, despite the education crisis. #MTBPS2024 #SifunaUkufunda appeared first on Equal Education.

For Immediate Release: 31 October 2024

IN SUMMARY – Equal Education states that:

Austerity Budgeting & Inequality: The 2024 budget focuses on austerity, limiting spending to less than revenue, impacting public services and socio-economic rights, particularly in education.

Education Funding Shortfall: The Department of Basic Education reports a R32 billion shortfall this year, projected to grow to R176 billion by 2027/28. This is due to rising student enrollment, new mandates like mandatory Grade R, and historical funding gaps.

Lack of Additional Funding: Despite these needs, no extra funds were provided for the increase in Grade R students under the Basic Education Amendment Laws Act (BELA). Education spending overall was reduced by R1.2 billion for the year.

School Infrastructure Issues: Infrastructure backlogs remain unaddressed, with the budget failing to meet school building targets (only one new school and no new water facilities created). The Education Infrastructure Grant will also see a 3% decrease each year through 2026/27.

Western Cape Education Cuts: R321 million was allocated for new schools and disaster relief in the Western Cape, but funding cuts have led to a reduction of 2,407 teaching positions next year.

Teacher Shortage & Bursary Cuts: Cuts to the Funza Lushaka bursary mean fewer young teachers are joining the workforce. Early retirement incentives for public workers and a tight wage bill make the teacher shortage worse.

Impact on Learning: Larger class sizes and fewer teachers hurt learning quality and students’ motivation to pursue teaching. The situation echoes the impact of Bantu education, with long-term effects on poverty, inequality, and unemployment.

Call for Public Investment: Investing in education and public services is essential for economic growth and equality. Cuts to social grants, lack of funding for public jobs, and outdated poverty data further affect vulnerable South Africans.

Appeal to Parliament: Parliament is urged to review the budget to ensure it aligns with South Africa’s constitutional commitment to socio-economic rights. There’s a call to prioritize human development and inclusive economic growth in budget decisions.

Importance of Public Services: Education, healthcare, social protection, and employment programs are essential for a fairer South Africa and should receive adequate funding.

[END]

To arrange a media interview, contact: Ayanda Sishi-Wigzell, Communications Manager. 

Email: ayanda@equaleducation.org.za

Phone: 076 879 3017

The post Media Statement on the 2024 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) Education spending decreases, despite the education crisis. #MTBPS2024 #SifunaUkufunda appeared first on Vuka News.

Leaders of Saftu, Cosatu and the SACP leading the anti-austerity protest in Cape Town ahead of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement. All photos by Chris Gilili

BY Chris Gilili – this post first appeared at Elitsha

IN SUMMARY :

Protest Against Austerity: Hundreds of activists, social movements, and trade union members marched to South Africa’s parliament to deliver a memorandum against austerity measures, timed ahead of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS).

Organising Groups: Key leaders from Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), South African Communist Party (SACP), Cry of the Xcluded, Housing Assembly, and other social movements led the protest.

Statement from Protesters: Protesters expressed concerns over high living costs, unemployment, poverty, and homelessness. “A well-resourced budget is critical given the perpetuation of deep socio-economic inequalities in the country.” They argued that the National Treasury’s spending cuts will worsen South Africa’s social crisis.

Housing Assembly’s Response: Kashiefa Achmat from Housing Assembly criticized austerity: “Austerity is affecting all of us very badly… we don’t think our people will have houses built for them.” Achmat highlighted how affordable housing remains inaccessible to the unemployed and called for an end to austerity to prevent further poverty.

Saftu General Secretary’s Speech: Zwelinzima Vavi condemned budget cuts: “They are going to be boasting that there is a surplus in the budget…Voetsek! with austerity measures!” He warned that cuts will severely impact education, healthcare, and essential services, citing teacher layoffs and a 40% vacancy rate in hospitals.

Cry of the Xcluded’s Stance: Phumza Booi from Cry of the Xcluded highlighted the struggle with unemployment, citing her own experience of job insecurity within the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP): “People only work in the programme for three months, and get terminated after that.”

Cosatu’s Demands: Cosatu general secretary Solly Phetoe called for a “people’s budget” addressing National Health Insurance (NHI) and land reform. He demanded a government response within 14 days to their demands.

Memorandum of Demands: The protesters demanded immediate government action to control food, fuel, and electricity prices, improve crime prevention, and boost safety and rehabilitation resources.

SACP’s Position: Benson Ngqentsu, SACP Western Cape secretary, criticized neoliberal policies: “As communists we are calling on this government to stop with neoliberalism…Implement the NHI now.”

Government Response: A deputy director general from the finance department accepted and signed the memorandum presented by the protesters.

MTBPS Announcement by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana:

• Growth & Debt: Godongwana projected a 1.1% growth rate in 2024 and warned of unsustainable debt, which could reach R6.05 trillion by 2025/26.
• Budget Cuts: He defended budget cuts as necessary, saying, “We have restrained spending and maintained stable tax collection.”
• Public-Private Partnerships: Godongwana announced reforms to encourage private sector investment in infrastructure, aiming to offset public sector limitations. “We are amending the PPP regulations to simplify requirements for undertaking these projects.”

The post Hundreds march to Parliament against budget cuts appeared first on Vuka News.

The Western Cape’s plan to cut teacher posts came under scrutiny in Parliament on Tuesday. Graphic: Lisa Nelson – This post was first published on GroundUp

By Tori Newby “We’re not retrenching teachers. We’re reducing posts,” says WCED head

IN SUMMARY:

• Western Cape Education Department (WCED) faces criticism: The WCED’s plan to reduce teaching posts was scrutinized in Parliament, especially by the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education.
• Reason for reduction:
  • The WCED announced a 2,407 teacher post reduction for 2025 due to a R3.8-billion budget shortfall over the next three years.
• Clarification on reduction:
  • WCED Head of Department Brent Walters clarified that this is a reduction, not retrenchment.
  • Quote: “We’re not retrenching teachers. We’re reducing posts. I think that’s a very big difference between these two things.”
  • Temporary teacher contracts expiring in December will not be renewed.
• Notification to schools:
  • Affected schools have been informed of their post losses and have until 15 November to choose which posts they will forfeit.
• Budget considerations:
  • Walters explained that the WCED reviewed all expenditure items and that salary costs had to be adjusted to avoid overspending.
  • Quote: “When you have large cuts to your budget, you’re going to have to go to your salaries, otherwise you’re going to overspend.”
• Criticism from committee chairperson:
  • Chairperson Khomotjo Maimela questioned why the Western Cape is the only province reducing teacher posts, despite budget cuts in other provinces.
  • Maimela expressed concern that township schools, already overcrowded, would suffer most, implying the WCED’s approach is not “pro-poor”.
  • Quote: “I’m saying, you are literally now compromising the provision of quality of education for the poor learners in the province. And you are doing it deliberately.”
• Written response requested: Maimela requested a detailed written response from the WCED within seven days, explaining how the post reductions would be implemented.
• Northern Cape’s approach:
  • Despite a R358-million shortfall, the Northern Cape Education Department has decided not to reduce teacher posts.
  • MEC Abraham Vosloo stated that 663 teachers’ posts are at risk but that the department is exploring other budget cuts.
  • Quote: “For us to retrench these teachers would be devastating to the Northern Cape.”
• Awaiting additional funding:
  • The medium-term budget is expected to be tabled on Wednesday.
  • Western Cape Minister of Education David Maynier hopes the Minister of Finance will announce additional support for education during this session.

The post Teacher posts: Western Cape education department quizzed in Parliament appeared first on Vuka News.